Model 72 Savage arms falling block rifle

This was my first gun. I've put so many bricks of .22lr threw this thing that I'm surprised there is any rifling left. When I was a kid the only thing i wanted to do was go out to the farm for the weekend and shoot this rifle. I woud sit there with a brick of cheep .22lrs and spend the day trying to shoot empty shot gun shell casings from as far away as i could.

If Savage built your rifle with the same care that Stevens built the Favorite, it's predecessor, it should be good to go for your grandchildren.
And I doubt if you can wear out a .22 LR rimfire barrel, at least a single shot that will never get seriously hot. The rifling just gets smoother and smoother.

SaxonPig

April 27, 2012, 09:38 PM

I got one in the early 1970s. It was stolen in 1985 along with all my other guns. Found a replacement in the 1990s. For such a simple rifle it does shoot very well.

http://www.fototime.com/E64AB0EB5B4439B/standard.jpg

BCRider

April 27, 2012, 11:50 PM

I've got the Grand or maybe Great Grand Father to your 72. An old Stevens Crackshot 26. It's a little rough looking but given that it's very likely somewhere around 100 years old it shoots great. The old guy eyeballs don't work well with the "young whippersnapper" plain and simple iron sights but if I rest it and take my time I can still manage around 3'ish inch groups at 50 yards. And trust me, given what the sights look like to me this is truly amazing group sizing.

It's superb fun to shoot empty shotgun shells at around 15 to 25 yards out with a bunch of reloads tucked in the fingers of my left hand.... :D

SaxonPig

April 28, 2012, 10:43 AM

I have one of the ancestor rifles, too. Got it in 1988 at a police auction for $12.50. Some dolt had drilled a hole through the breech and sunk a big screw into it making it a toy for his grand kids, I guess. Totally devoid of finish and missing the sights I probably over paid for it.

Found a breech block (after 15 years of searching) for $5 at a show. Numrich sent me a rear sight for $5 and a hammer spring and firing pin for another $4. Refinished the stock and blued the metal myself. Also fashioned a front sight from flat stock. Figure I have $26.50 in it. I think it looks and shoots OK.